Category Archives: Tips

After 2 years since we last applied for a Korean Visa (which is unfortunately we got denied), there has been changes and a lot of people are saying that Visa Application for SoKor has gotten easier (?), but, I’m still terrified, its probably the trauma that we had from our last application hahaha. Of course I’m still feeling positive. Hwaiting!

After a week of waiting, I finally got my VISA! YEEESSS! The waiting game is over, and I can finish my itinerary and start paying for our reservations.

I just wanna share how we prepared for the Big V (visa) to Korea, I hope it would help other fellow K-poppers and Korean fanatics who wish to visit “The Land of the Morning Calm” one day.

I’m no newbie in Boracay, but it’s my first time at La Carmela de Boracay in Station 2. As always, I always try to find a good place to stay at a very reasonable price without sacrificing comfort and breaking our pockets. We booked our Boracay trip last March (this is during those promo period of Cebu Pacific and we got a good deal of course. Sweet! 🙂 ) and our trip is around November between low and “almost peak” season so accommodation around the place start to get expensive, there are a lot of guesthouses in Boracay you can choose from for a very reasonable price and if you are really on a tight budget. So we started checking other options for our accommodations, our budget for our accommodation is around 2,000php per day, guesthouses in this categories will fit on this budget. Luckily, I came across Boracay Best Deals for a very good deal, they have this low season promo which is good for 4person on a Standard Room in La Carmela de Boracay with 2 buffet breakfast pass per day. Isn’t awesome or what?

Comparing the price of our first choice accommodation which is around 2,000php per night and the inclusions of our stay. You can do the math but I would choose to book my stay at Boracay Best Deals.

But of course at first I was hesitant on taking the promo, so I did further checking and you can check their Facebook Account for proof 😀 😀 :D. Booking your accommodation thru Boracay Best Deal is the easiest thing I ever did. I just email them my preferred dates, feedback was fast. Once they have confirmed the dates and settled my payments the next thing I new is, they already provided me my voucher for our stay in La Carmela de Boracay. They are very commendable for their service, fast and efficient. Will I avail of their services on my next trip to Boracay? Definitely YES!

So for inquiries on their on going promo you can check their website of Facebook account.

We’ll be staying for a night in Macau over the weekend, and its true that prices of hotels in Macau can be a little steep. There’s not much guesthouse that you can choose around Macau and most of their reviews are so-so. It’s not my first choice to stay in Fu Hua Guang Dong Hotel, the reviews in Tripadvisor are 50-50, I was supposed to book in Ole London, but since as our trip is getting near, prices of hotels also get higher. So I grab and book the cheapest among the list of hotels in Agoda that are near the tourist spot according to Tripadvisor and other travelers recommendations.

Basically, you can save money from taking the FREE shuttles of the big hotels in Macau, but since Fu Hua Guang Dong Hotel is nowhere near any of the big hotels, the best way to reach the hotel is taking Bus#12 and drop off at Rua Xavier Perreira, Av Horta e Costa

Click to Enlarge

You’ll know you’re near the street once you see the McDonalds across the street (don’t worry the bus also shows your next destination its for you to figure out 😀 😀 :D) and that is the Horta e Costa Av, Fu Hua Guang Dong Hotel is on the other side of the street near Bank of China.

I have prepared an itinerary for my trip to HongKong and I made sure that I have options incase, my first option didn’t work I have a back-up plan. I’m also weighing my options which is best approach and which option where I can save time, money and be able to see as much places with careful planning. By the way I’ll be embarking in Hong Kong and cross and disembark Macau. I know I would save a lot of money if I’m not going to spend a night in Macau, but I don’t want to distress myself in bringing my luggage to places.

OPTION 1:

OPTION 2:

So whatever you plan to do, just enjoy the moment and the places. 🙂 🙂 🙂

I just got back from my trip to HongKong and Macau, as always I aim to enjoy traveling without breaking my pockets. I just want to show you that it’s OK to travel as long as you do not over budget and spend wisely. One of the biggest allotment in your budget is your accommodation, just a tip, if you want to save a lot for accommodation, you don’t need to stay on a 5-star hotel especially if you’ll always be outside wandering the city, a decent place will do. Pick a place that is convenient to most tourist spots and be prepared to do a lot of walking. This way you’ll save money from taking bus, train or even taxi.

Here’s my breakdown. I traveled with a friend and we split the expenses between the two of us.

HongKong-Macau Expense per person

PESO

HKD

Terminal 3 (Airport)

Travel Tax

1620

Terminal fee

550

Octopus Card

1410.52

250HKD

Day 1

Bus from Airport to GC Guesthouse

via Octopus Card

Golden Crown Guesthouse (960HKD)

2708.2

480HKD

from GC Guesthouse to Wong Tai Sin Temple

via Octopus Card

Wong Tai Sin Temple

FREE

FREE

from Wong Tai Sin to Jordan Station

via Octopus Card

Lunch at DimDimSum Dim Sum (for sharing 110HKD)

338.52

60HKD

from Jordan St. to GC

via Octopus Card

Star Ferry Ride (one way)

via Octopus Card

The Vicoria Peak (Entrance)

c/o Ate Chona

FREE

Dinner

c/o Ate Chona

FREE

Day 2

Breakfast – Australian Dairy Co

180.55

32HKD

from Jordan Stn. To Tung Chung Stn

via Octopus Card

Ngong Ping Cable Car (2way)

677.05

120HKD

Lunch at City Gate Outlet

383.66

68HKD

from Tung Chung Stn to Disneyland

via Octopus Card

Disneyland (Entrance)

2,313.25

410HKD

Slush Coke

169.26

30HKD

Night Market (Food Tripping)

338.52

60HKD

Day 3

Breakfast – Charlie Brown Café

282.1

50HKD

Avenue of Stars

FREE

FREE

Taxi to China Ferry Terminal (48HKD)

135.41

24HKD

China Ferry going to Macau

987.36

175HKD

Bus to Fu Hua Guangdong

22.57

4HKD

Macau Museum

FREE

Fortress de Macau

FREE

Break (eggtart & mineral water)

135.41

24HKD

Dinner McDonalds

169.26

30HKD

Day 4

Bus going to Ferry Terminal

22.57

4HKD

FREE Shuttle going to Venetian

FREE

Lunch at Bambu

1,213.05

215HKD

Dinner McDonalds

225.68

40HKD

FREE Shuttle going to the airport

FREE

Subtotal (w/o Souvenirs)

PHP13,882.94

I hope this help. You can still lower your budget since we had a buffet at Venetian which of course is optional. Happy Budgeting! 🙂 🙂 🙂

I’m happy that I already got my renewed passport today, just in time for my trip to Malaysia. I won’t post the step by step processing of renewing your passport, because I know there are a lot of blogs that provide information on how to renew your passport and get a new passport (if you plan on getting one).

I had to renew my passport due to unexpected trip and mine would expire this year. One of the requirements for traveling is your passport is at least 6 months valid from the time of your trip, so I have to make my move before our trip to Malaysia 😀 . Renewal of passport is made easy by DFA, since they already have satellite offices in Metro Manila, for those who are coming from different parts of the metro you can check DFA website for their nearest satellite office. Processing time of passport is 15 days for regular, and 7days processing for rush and you can also have it delivered to your door step. This is very convenient for me, since I’m not familiar with other parts of Manila.

So if you’re planning to have a passport or renew them, check DFA’s website for required document and make an appointment thru their website and make sure that you have an early schedule, some satellites office like in SM Megamall tend to be crowded, so if you want to finish the process early, make an early appointment.

Since this is my first time to travel outside the country, I wanna make sure that I have everything that I need. Traveling in a foreign country is something that you have to be prepared of, since you don’t know anyone and you do not have any idea who you can ask for help in case an emergency occurs. So it helps to be prepared! 🙂 🙂 🙂

So below are the list of things that you’ll be needing when traveling, of course the other things still depends on the country you’ll be visiting and depending on the weather and purpose of your visit.